Packing container

ABSTRACT

A packing container of synthetic thermoplastic material is in the form of a rectangular bin having vertical supporting members at each corner interconnected by horizontal bearing members spaced downwardly from the tops of the support members and defining the upper edges of the bin. A bottom wall has its edges merging into the bearing members and is spaced above the lower ends of the corner support members. The entire structure of the corner support members, bearing members and the bottom wall is a single unitary member. A cross tape may be interconnected between the upper ends of the corner support members and may be so dimensioned so as to be under tension. The bottom portion of the bottom wall may be provided with a regular pattern of openings to receive fruit or the like which is being packed in the container.

[151 3,682,351 51 Aug. 8, 1972 [54] PACKING CONTAINER [72] Inventor:

Netherlands [73] Assignee: Industriele Onderveming Wavin N.V., Zwolle,Netherlands [22] Filed: Jan. 8, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 1,369

52 us. Cl. ..220/97 B, 220/83 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 21/06 [58] Field ofSearch..220/83, 97 R, 97 B, 97 C, 97D

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1966 Kesilman ..220/97 X8/ 1951 Rhodes ..220/97 B X 12/1969 Sanders ..220/97 D FOREIGN PATENTSOR APPLICATIONS 7/1961 Great Britain ..220/ 83 Warner Jan De. Putter,Zwolle,

1,030,454 5/1966 Great Britain..., ..220/97B Primary Examiner-George E.Lowrance Attorney-Edmund M. Jaskiewicz [57] ABSTRACT A packing containerof synthetic thennoplastic material is in the form of a rectangular binhaving vertical supporting members at each comer interconnected byhorizontal bearing members spaced downwardly from the tops of thesupport members and defining the upper edges of the bin. A bottom wallhas its edges merging into the bearing members and is spaced above thelower ends of the comer support members. The entire structure of thecorner support members, bearing members and the bottom wall is a singleunitary member. A cross tape may be interconnected between the upperends of the corner support members and may be so dimensioned so as to beunder tension. The bottom portion of the bottom wall may be providedwith a regular pattern of openings to receive fruit or the like which isbeing packed in the container.

8 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED 8 I972 3.682.351 sum 1 or 3 NVENTORWARNER JAN DEPUTTER ATTORNEY! PATENTEmus 8 I972 3.682.351

sum 2 or 3 INVENTOR WARNER JAN DEPUTTER PATENTEDAUI; 8 I972 3.682.351

26 l- H I INVENTOR WARNER JAN DEPUTTER /7 f I v k? ORNEY) I PACKINGCONTAINER The present invention relates to a packing container for fruitand the like, more particularly, such a packing container formed from apiece of thermoplastic material into the shape of a unitary rectangularbin which can be readily stacked with similar containers.

A known form of a packing container, especially for fruit, comprises arectangular bin having vertical corner supports protruding upwardly soas to support a similar bin stacked thereon and spaced from the edge ofthe first bin. Such packing containers have been described as leggedbins, and are generally used for the transportation of tomatoes, grapes,plums and other fruits. The upwardly protruding corner supportingmembers provide a space between the bottom wall of one bin and thecontents of the bin stacked underneath. This spacing permits thecirculation of fresh air which is of particular importance with manykinds of fruits in order to prevent any growth of molds on those fruitswhich may become damaged.

This general type of legged bin has been made in a wide variety offorms. However, these packing containers have generally one or moredisadvantages so that no bin has ever come into wide-spread use. Theideal packing container should meet a number of requirements which arecontradictory. Such a packing container should have sufficient strengthto transport fruits and to withstand rough handling but at the same timethe cost and the weight of the container should be as low as possible.The cost factor is particularly important since many of the packingcontainers are used only once, particularly in export, and then arediscarded. Such containers should also be simple in construction so asto avoid, if at all possible, any assembly on the part of the user.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to providea novel and improved packing container particularly for fruits and thelike.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a packingcontainer in the form of a rectangular bin and shaped from an integralpiece of thermoplastic material at a low cost.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a packingcontainer of thermoplastic material having a simple structure includingsides, corner supports and a bottom.

According to one aspect of the present invention a packing container forfruit and the like may comprise a rectangular bin having verticalsupport members at each corner thereof and horizontal bearing membersextending between the corner support members. The bearing members arespaced downwardly from the top ends of the corner support members anddefine the upper edges of the bin. A bottom wall includes a bottomportion and has its edges merging upwardly into the inner faces of thebearing members. The bottom portion of the bottom wall is spaced abovethe lower ends of the corner support members. The vertical supportmembers, the bearing members and the bottom wall is of a single integralplastic member with the bottom wall having a smaller thickness than thevertical support and bearing members.

A cross tape may be interconnected between the top ends of the comersupport members and is dimensioned so as to be under tension whensecured in position.

The vertical comer supports have a substantially inverted U-shapedsection with the legs thereof diverging in a downward direction so as tofacilitate stacking of the packing containers. The horizontal bearingmembers may also have an inverted channel shape so that the containerhas maximum rigidity and strength obtained with a minimum of material infonning the container.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentupon reference to the accompanying description when taken in conjunctionwith the following drawings, which are exemplary, wherein;

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a packing container accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of the packing container of FIG. 1but with a cross tape interconnected between the upper ends of thecorner supports;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line IIIIII of FIG. 1 andshowing the relationship of two stacked containers;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of two stacked containers with the lowercontainer having a cross tape upon which the upper container ispositioned;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view in'enlarged scale of the structure on theupper end of a comer support and the end of a cross tape'which issecured on this corner structure;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified corner support member. of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII VII of FIG. 6.

Proceeding next to the drawings wherein like reference symbols indicatethe same parts throughout the various views a specific embodiment andmodifications of the present invention will be described in detail.

As may be seen in FIG. 1 the packing container comprises a rectangularbin having vertical support members l in each of its four comers.Extending between the support members 1 are horizontally disposedbearing members 2 which form the upper edges of the side walls of thebin. The support members 1 and bearing members 2 are sufficiently rigidto give shape and firmness to the container. The bin further comprises abottom wall having a bottom portion 4 which curves upwardly along itsedges to form portions 5 which merge into the inner faces of thesupporting members 2. A plurality of reinforcing ribs 3 are formed onthe outer faces of the merging portions 5 between a plurality ofopenings 4 formed immediately below the supporting members 2. The ribs 3may have a horizontal triangular cross section and the thickness of theribs at the top may be equal to the width of the supporting members 2but decreases progressively downwardly as the lower ends of the ribsmerge into the bottom portion 6.

The ribs 5 function to support the bin from the bearing members 2.However, the ribs 5 may be positioned only between the opposite walls ofthe bearing member 2 having a U-shaped cross section as shown in thedrawings so that the ribs 5 will then function as reinforcing elements.

The bottom portion 6 is provided with a plurality of openings to definea honeycomb structure with the articles being smaller than the smallestarticle to be packed within the container. The bottom portion may alsobe formed as a grid and so constructed that when the container is emptythe bottom portion will bulge slightly upwardly.

The components of the packing container as described above are formed ofa synthetic plastic material such as polyolefines, vinyl or vinylidenepolymers or copolymers such as polyvinylchloride and preferablypolystyrene whether or not of the high impact quality. The thickness ofthe components varies from 0.5 to 2.0 mm. with the thinner portionsforming the bottom wall and the thicker portions being found in thecorner support members and bearing members. Only a relatively smallamount of plastic material is required to manufacture this container byknown injection molding techniques and the resulting cost per unitcontainer is relatively small.

As may be seen in FIG. 3, the corner support members l and the bearingmembers 2 have substantially inverted channel cross sections. This crosssection together with the diverging downwardly of the opposing legs ofboth the corner supports and the bearing members facilitates stacking ofthe containers when they are empty.

As may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 a U-shaped corner supporting member 1has an inner leg 8 which merges on either side into an inner leg 9 ofthe adjacent U- shaped bearing members 2. In a similar manner the outerleg 10 of a corner support merges into the outer leg 11 of the adjacentU-shaped bearing support members 2. The merging of the inner and outerlegs results in curved or rounded merging portions as may be seen inFIGS. 1 and 2. The upper edges of the bearing members 2 merge at 12 intothe corner supports 1 as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. In a similarmanner, the lower end of the inner leg 8 of a corner support membermerges at 13 into the bottom portion 6 of the bin. The lower end 10' ofthe outer leg is straight and extends below the bottom portion 6 to forma support when the container is rested upon a surface.

The substantially U-shaped cross section of the corner support members 1and the bearing members 2 imparts greater rigidity and strength tothecontainer with a minimum use of material. Further, the divergence ofthe legs of both the corner support members and bearing members providesgood nesting characteristics to facilitate stacking of empty containersas shown in FIG. 3.

The slight divergence of the legs 9 and 11 of the bearing members 2 hasno direct relationship to the nesting characteristics of a container.This divergent property of the legs of the bearing members 2 results inpart from tightly finishing in a horizontal direction the outer andinner sides of the bearing members 2 and th corner support members 1.

Each comer support 1 may be provided with a reinforcing partition 14extending diagonally therein as may be seen in FIG. 3. The partitionextends from the inner face of the top end of a corner supportdownwardly a short distance so that the lower edge of the partition willrest on the top of a comer support of a next lower container when aplurality of empty containers are stacked in the manner as shown in FIG.3. In this position the reinforcing ribs disposed on the mergingportions of the bottom of the bin will not contact the upper edge of thebearing member of the packing container nested therebelow. The presenceof these four reinforcing partitions within the corner support membersprovide great stability when a number of these packing containers arestacked to form a relatively high stack.

For certain applications the reinforcing partition 14 may be extendeddownwardly through the entire height of a comer support member. Whilesuch an arrangement would provide an extremely strong packing containerit would become more difficult to stack properly such containers.

A cross tape 7 having widened portions 15 on each of its four ends isconnected between the tops of the corner supports of a container asshown in FIG. 2. Each widened portion 15 is provided with an opening 16and a vertical reinforcing rib 19 extends along the top of each crosstape and over the opening 16 as may be seen in FIG. 5. The opening 16receives a projection portion or saddle 17 mounted on the upper end of acorner support member 1. The saddle 17 is provided with a slot 18 whichreceives the reinforcing rib 19 to form a snap closure.

The cross tape may be made in one piece but may also be formed of twoseparate tapes which are applied diagonally across the bin. The crosstape is so dimensioned that it is taut when connected between the cornersupports as shown in FIG. 2. By positioning such a cross tape over thecontainer after it has been packed considerably greater rigidity isimparted to the container so that its bin construction per se can have arelatively light and thin configuration while nevertheless providing thecontainer with all the desired properties.

The cross tape may also comprise four cross tapes each having a lengthsubstantially equal to one-half the diagonal distance of the container.One of the tapes may be provided with openings to receive beads moldedon the ends of the other three tapes so that a quick connection betweenthe cross tapes can be obtained.

When a number of packing containers have been filled and the cross tapesplaced in position they are stacked by positioning the lower ends of thecorner supports of one container onto the widened portion 15 of a crosstape of the next lower container as shown in FIG. 4. Since the lower endof a corner support fits around a saddle 17 on the upper end of a cornersupport on a container therebelow, the stacked containers will beprevented from shifting with respect to each other after they have beenstacked. The slot 18 in the saddle 17 on the top of a corner support maybe also used to receive the lower edge of a diagonal partition 14 ofanother container stacked thereon when the containers are empty. Thelower ends 10' of the corner supports of a container may also rest onthe top ends of corner supports 1 of a next lower container wherein thetop ends have been broadened in the vicinity of the saddle 17. Thisconstruction may be employed when the cross tape 7 is provided with abead at its end which can be snapped into a suitable recess formed inthe saddle 17 on either side of the slot 18.

It is preferable that the cross tape be so dimensioned that it is underslight tension when positioned between the corner supports. Undercertain conditions it may be also advantageous to so dimension the crosstape that it is necessary to press the corner supports slightly inwardlyin order to position the tape opening 16 over the saddles 17. Thisconstruction will also produce a tension in the cross tape which willfacilitate supporting the uppermost ones of a stack of containers.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 there is shown a modification of the container whichcannot be nested upon a similar container. These packing containers resteither upon the ground or upon the top of another container. The comersupporting member 1 has a rear or inner wall 21 which is integral withthe bin and so improves the rigidity of the bin that a crosstape is notnecessary. A pair of vertical walls 27 and 28 are attachedperpendicularly to the outer edges of the rear wall 21 and are formed soas to be integral with bearing members 2 as may be seen in FIG. 6. Theupper end of the channelshaped structure formed by rear wall 21 and sidewalls 27 and 28 is closed with anend wall 24 and the lower end is closedby an end wall 22. A raised rim or rib 25 is provided on the outerperipheral edge of the top end wall 24 to facilitate the stacking of asimilar container thereon. The corner support is further strengthened bya framework which may comprise diagonal reinforcing partitions 23, avertical partition 26 and/or additional horizontal partitions 22.

While the modified container of FIGS. 6 and 7 cannot be nested with asimilar container, this modified container is easier to manufacture byinjection molding than the container of FIG. 1 and also is more rigidand has greater strength.

ria t zlzing container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cross tapeshave a length slightly less than one-half the diagonal distance of thepacking container so that the tapes are under tension after beingconnected upon the comer support members.

3. A packing container as claimed in claim 2 wherein the bottom portionof the bottom wall is grid-shaped.

4. A packing container as claimed in claim 3,

- wherein the bottom portion of the bottom wall is in the A bridgingportion 29 may be provided between the comer support side walls 27 and28 and the bearing members 2. However, the member 29 may be omittedwithout affecting significantly the strength of the container. All ofthe components of this modified container are preferably of the samethickness so that a relatively large container may be formed from aminimum amount of thermoplastic material.

It is understood that this invention is susceptible to modification inorder to adapt it to different usages and conditions and, accordingly,it is desired to comprehend such modifications within the invention asmay fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A packing container for fruit and the like comprising a rectangularbin having a vertical supporting member at each corner thereof,horizontal bearing members extending between said .vertical supportmembers spaced downwardly from the top ends thereof and defining theupper edges of the bin, a bottom wall having a bottom portion and itsedges merging into the bearing members and spaced above the lower endsof said support members, said vertical support members, bearing membersand the bottom wall being of a single integral plastic member, tautcross tape means extendshape of a honeycomb.

5. A packing container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of saidcorner support members comprises two spaced vertical walls extendingoutwardly normally from said rear wall, said two vertical walls beingintegral with said bearing members.

6. A packing container as claimed in claim 5, and comprising a pluralityof reinforcing partitions extending between said two vertical walls.

7. A packing container as claimed in claim 5, and comprising end wallsclosing the upper and lower ends of the corner support members, and anupstanding rib at the outer peripheral edge of the upper end wall.

8. A packing container for fruit and the like comprising a rectangularbin having a vertical support member at each comer thereof, horizontalbearing members extending between said vertical support members, abottom wall having a bottom portion merging into the said bearingmembers, said vertical support members, bearing members and bottom wallbeing of a single integral plastic member, and a taut cross tape meansextending diagonally from the tops of said corner support members, meansfor securing said cross tape means to said support member tops, thecorner support members of vertically stacked containers being positionedon said cross tape means and projection means on the tops of said cornersupport members, there being widened portions on the ends of said crosstape means and having openings therein to receive said projection means,a diagonal slot in said projection means, and upright reinforcing ribson said cross tape means extending across the end opening thereof andpositionable in said diagonal slot.

1. A packing container for fruit and the like comprising a rectangularbin having a vertical supporting member at each corner thereof,horizontal bearing members extending between said vertical supportmembers spaced downwardly from the top ends thereof and defining theupper edges of the bin, a bottom wall having a bottom portion and itsedges merging into the bearing members and spaced above the lower endsof said support members, said vertical support members, bearing membersand the bottom wall being of a single integral plastic member, tautcross tape means extending diagonally from the tops of said cornersupport members, means for securing said cross tape means to saidsupport member tops, the corner support members of vertically stackedcontainers being positioned on said cross tape means, projection meanson the tops of said corner support members, there being widened portionson the ends of said cross tape means and having openings therein toreceive said projection means, said projection means having a diagonalslot therein, and upright reinforcing ribs on said cross tapes extendingacross the end opening thereof and positionable in said diagonal slot.2. A packing container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cross tapeshave a length slightly less than one-half the diagonal distance of thepacking container so that the tapes are under tension after beingconnected upon the corner support members.
 3. A packing container asclaimed in claim 2 wherein the bottom portion of the bottom wall isgrid-shaped.
 4. A packing container as claimed in claim 3, wherein thebottom portion of the bottom wall is in the shape of a honeycomb.
 5. Apacking container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said cornersupport members comprises two spaced vertical walls extending outwardlynormally from said rear wall, said two vertical walls being integralwith said bearing members.
 6. A packing container as claimed in claim 5,and comprising a plurality of reinforcing partitions extending betweensaid two vertical walls.
 7. A packing container as claimed in claim 5,and comprising end walls closing the upper and lower ends of the cornersupport members, and an upstanding rib at the outer peripheral edge ofthe upper end wall.
 8. A packing container for fruit and the likecomprising a rectangular bin having a vertical support member at eachcorner thereof, horizontal bearing members extending between saidvertical support members, a bottom wall having a bottom portion merginginto the said bearing members, said vertical support members, bearingmembers and bottom wall being of a single integral plastic member, and ataut cross tape means extending diagonally from the tops of said cornersupport members, means for securing said cross tape means to saidsupport member tops, the corner support members of vertically stackedcontainers being positioned on said cross tape means and projectionmeans on the tops of said corner support members, there being widenedportions on the ends of said cross tape means and having openingstherein to receive said projection means, a diagonal slot in saidprojection means, and upright reinforcing ribs on said cross tape meansextending across the end opening thereof and positionable in saiddiagonal slot.